ALGIERS - Algeria's first multi party parliament held its inaugural session yesterday. The reinstated Prime Minister, Mr Ahmed Ouyahia, must now form a government from the mostly conservative and Islamic MPs.
The 380 national assembly members, who were voted in elections the opposition claims were flawed, are from 10 parties with 11 independents. There are 11 women MPs. The oldest member, Mr Mustapha Benmohamed (72), opened the session with a call to end five years of violence which followed cancelled elections in 1992.